00:00Bordeaux is located in southwestern France, not far from the Atlantic Ocean.
00:05For centuries, the city served as the gateway to the region's wines.
00:11I spent time in Bordeaux as a student, so coming back feels personal.
00:15Back then I crossed the Garonne all the time, but I never considered that this river is
00:20the reason why Bordeaux wine became famous.
00:24The Garonne River is the birthplace of the Bordeaux wine trade.
00:28Wine has been shipped from here since the Middle Ages.
00:33You should visit the Cité du Vin if you want to truly understand wine.
00:38The building is one of the city's most striking landmarks.
00:42Its architecture is modeled after the swirling motion of wine in a glass.
00:47The museum showcases everything related to the culture and history of wine, not only in
00:53Bordeaux but around the world.
00:54But almost everything in the exhibition is interactive and entertaining.
01:00My favorite part is the Five Senses buffet.
01:03Have you ever wondered why wine geeks always seem to taste something in wine that nobody
01:08else can?
01:09Here you can train your nose and see if you've got the skills too.
01:16Yeah, that's coffee.
01:19Saint-Emilion is located about 40 kilometers east of Bordeaux.
01:24The town and its surrounding vineyards are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of France's
01:30most famous wine regions.
01:32At its heart is the monolithic rock church carved into the limestone.
01:36In the 12th century, Benedictine monks founded a monastery here and helped develop the now-famous
01:43vineyards.
01:44It's one of the most beautiful places you can visit from Bordeaux.
01:47But I'm not here for the postcard views.
01:50I want to see what's happening in the vineyards because that's where climate change becomes
01:54really visible.
01:55I'm taking part in an e-bike tour with rustic vines.
02:00It's a more active and environmentally friendly option than driving.
02:04And the route takes us right through the vineyards.
02:07The landscape where riding through is increasingly affected by climate change.
02:13Hotter summers and erratic rainfall are disrupting work schedules in the vineyards.
02:18So here you have the little grapes from this year.
02:20What you're seeing is quite extraordinary because you should not be looking at grapes that are
02:25this big at this period of the year.
02:27So because of what you're seeing today is very advanced, that means that for the first
02:31time in history, we might do the harvest in August and not in September like we usually do.
02:38If you don't have time for Saint-Emilion or a wine show is too expensive, here's a tip.
02:43Check out the Maison du Vin in the heart of Bordeaux.
02:46Here you can taste a wide selection of wines, starting at €2.50 per glass.
02:52Stéphanie Sinoquet of the Bordeaux-Supérieur Wine Association is working on strategies to
02:59help producers adapt wine production to climate change.
03:03If temperatures keep rising by another few degrees, some grape varieties like Merlot or
03:08Cabernet could become too ripe.
03:11More sunshine means higher alcohol levels in the wine.
03:15At the same time, consumers are increasingly looking for wines with lower alcohol content.
03:20So we're thinking about how we can adapt our grape varieties while still preserving the
03:25DNA of Bordeaux wines.
03:27When you cross the Garonne River, an alternative and creative side of Bordeaux awaits you.
03:33The Darwin Ecosystem Cultural Center.
03:36Located in former military barracks, it's a skate park and a street art gallery.
03:41A co-working space, vintage shops and more.
03:46This was one of my favorite spots as a student here and it's still a great place to come
03:51if you want to see a younger and more alternative side to the city.
03:56On the grounds, you'll find a wine project unlike anything I've shown you so far.
04:01La Mikro Winery.
04:02The owners produce small batches of wine right in the middle of the city using sustainable
04:08methods.
04:09In their wine workshops, you can create your own wine blend and take your bottle home with
04:14you.
04:15The experience costs around 80 euros.
04:19Now to the other side of the Garonne, Les Chartrons.
04:24Along the quays and in the adjacent streets sat the Négotion – wine merchants who bought,
04:30stored, blended and shipped wines around the world.
04:33The neighborhood was long considered run down, but has evolved into a trendy district in recent
04:39years.
04:47Coming back to Bordeaux after all these years, I discovered a completely different side to
04:51the city.
04:52Climate change is affecting the vineyards and the wines people want to drink.
04:56If you had one day in Bordeaux, what would be your first stop?
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